Spain recovers cannon from disputed 19th century wreck

MADRID (AP) — Spanish officials say they have recovered 12 metal objects, including an 80-centimeter (31-inch) bronze cannon, from a 19th century shipwreck that has been the subject of a court case.

The Culture Ministry said Wednesday that in an expedition this month it had also mapped the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, sunk in 1804 by a British warship west of the Straits of Gibraltar.

It was the first expedition since Spain won the salvage rights for the galleon in 2012.

U.S. courts ruled that the vessel belonged to Spain and ordered the Florida company that found it in 2007 to return $500 million worth of gold and silver coins it took from the sea bed to Spain.